Therapeutic apparatus



March-2, 1948. H, E. cHRlsTENsEN 2,4320@ THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed July l0, 1945 A 'r rop/v5 Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Harry E. Christensen, San Francisco, Calif.

Application July 10, 1945, Serial No. 604,203

This invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus especially designed for application of heat rays in the treatment of certain diseases.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of the character described; to provide a frame which serves two main func-- tions, first that of a support for a plurality ci electric lamp bulbs whereby heat rays may be directed against the body or limbs oi a person to be treated, and second, a frame which will serve vas a support for the bedding if a person treated is bedrdden; to provide a frame which may be positioned to straddle the body or limbs of a person lying in bed and at the same time support the bedding so as to keep the bedding out of contact with the limb or area being treated and aid in retaining the heat generated by the lamps; to provide adjustable supports for the lamps whereby they may be raised or lowered with relation to the limb or area being treated; to provide a frame which is laterally adjustable to make it narrow or wide as circumstances may demand; and further, to provide a frame which is light in weight and foldable for storage and transportation.

The therapeutic apparatus is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus applied to a person who is bedridden;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame or apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the frame or apparatus in folded form.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 2 and 3, A indicates in general a frame which is provided with a handle B whereby it may be lifted, carried or moved about. The frame consists of a pair of longitudinally extending base bars 2-2, a pair of similar upper bars 3-3 and 4, a plurality of vertically disposed uprights or legs 5 and 5a, and a plurality of transversely extending cross-bars 6. The cross-bars 6 are pivotally connected to the upper bars and to the' center bar 4. This method of pivotaily connecting them permits the frame as a whole to be folded or collapsed into a fiat form such as shown in Fig. 3, thus reducing it in size for storage and/or transportation. This pivotal connection furthermore permits the width of the frame to be decreased as will hereinafter be described.

The frame legs 5 and 5a each carry a friction clip I0. and these in turn support lamp sockets Il and electric lamps or bulbs I2. The friction 3 Claims. (Cl. 21S- 45) clips are vertically adjusted on the legs 5 and 5a and the lamps may thus be raised or lowered. An extension cord I4 of a suitable length having a plug i5 is secured to the lower side of the central bar il. The cord leads to a distributor box it and cords l1 and i8 extend from the box to the respective lamp sockets and these cords are provided with sufficient slack to permit vertical adjustment of the sockets and lamps as heretofore described.

In actual practice if a person is bedridden as shown in Fig. l and heat treatment is to be applied to the legs and feet, the frame will be placed on the mattress in position to straddle one or both legs. The lamps are then vertically adjusted to properly apply the heat rays and the current may then be turned on and the bedding folded over to cover the frame so as to retain the heat. 1i only one leg is to be treated, the frame may be partially collapsed so as to bring the lamps closer together. Thus, the lamps are both vertically and laterally adjustable with relation to the area or limb to be treated. As treatment ls taking place, the bedding may be lifted at either side or at the end and thus observation of the progress can be made from time to time.

The frame may also be used without turning on the lamps as the person may, for instance, have a tender or injured foot which is highly sensitive to the weight of the bedding, thus by placing the frame over the leg or foot, the patient may be relieved of pain and is insured perfect comfort.

While Fig. l shows the feet and legs in position to be treated, it is obvious that any portion of the entire body from head to foot may be treated. The pivotal connections between the cross-bars and the upper-bars will in actual practice be made sufciently tight or snug tting to frictionally secure the frame in the fully extended position shown in Fig. 1 or in the partially or fully collapsed position shown in Fig. 3, and while this and other features of the invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, it should be understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope or" the appended claims and that the materials and nish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience or judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varying conditions or uses may bemand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a frame comprising a pair of vertical side sections, a plurality of electric lamp bulbs carried by the side sections, means for vertically adjust-` ing the lamp bulbs with relation to each side section, and means for connecting said side sections for lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to each other.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising a pair of vertical side sections, a plurality of cross-bars connecting the side sections and forming a top section, la pivotal connection between each end of each crossbar and the side sections to permit swinging movement of the side sections toward and away from each other, a plurality of electric lamp bulbs carried by the side sections, and'means for vertically adjusting the lamp bul-bs withy relation? to the side sections.

3. In an apparatus of the character described,

a pair of vertical side sections having uprlghts 20V and longitudinal bars,y a plurality of lamp bulbs mounted for vertical movement on said uprights, a plurality of cross bars, and means for connecting the cross bars at both ends to the longitudinal bars for pivotal movement about vertical axes.

HARRY E. CHRISTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

